As for some, the novel of Mark Twain, known as Huckleberry Finn, is subjecting high school students to a literature they are not mature enough to handle. These individuals who share in this idea encourage the novel to be introduced to students after their college enrolment. This is simply because they are not comfortable exposing the word, “nigger” in such a manner that it can be viewed as harmful to African Americans. My stance on this subject is very in favor of exposing the novel to high school students for many reasons. I find that many people look at the word “nigger” in only one viewing, and need to broaden their views of this word. The maturity of high school students is almost the same as those in college. However, many college students …show more content…
The word is taught by many to be said to any slave during this time period. I thought that there were white slaves? Where they called “niggers” as well? Indeed, there were white slaves that were called “niggers” along with black slaves. Many people are unaware of this fact and only subject the term to only be meant for black people. Since this new knowledge had be brought to light, the word “nigger” consequently does not refer to just blacks but rather both blacks and whites. The term groups together any property owned during this time period that was marked as a slave. The African American slave owners during this time were not called subject to the word. This is because a “nigger” was someone of low class or even just a piece of property that could be replaced. Another misconception is that there were in fact many black slave owners as well as white slave owners. The meaning of the word is arguably the most contemptuous word in the english language. “You are a white nigger!” “You are black nigger!” These two sentences mean the exact same thing. This term, as horrible as it is, should be just as offensive to white as it is to …show more content…
But are highschool kids mature enough to handle this verble scrutiny towards people that were viewed less than that of person? Or should they wait until they are in college where they are mature enough to handle something like this? The reality in the argument of maturity is that high school students and college students share in the same physiological maturity level. However, some may still feel that the novel targets their ethnicity of people by the usage of “nigger” in Huckleberry Finn. This could only mean that the individual reading the novel has not been shown all of the information that correlates to the time of Mark Twain. In conclusion, the reason I am for the novel, Huckleberry Finn, to be exposed to high school students is so that the conversation on the abrupt word “nigger” can be discussed. It exposes the reader to an author who is unafraid of showing the reality of the language people spoke. This book makes those who read it look deeper into the meaning of the words used hundreds of years ago.
Since its release, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, has stirred up much controversy, most recently, over the book’s excessive usage of the word “nigger.” The topic has been debated by a broad range of scholars, ranging from authors to professors, to students alike, with both sides providing bold claims in support of their viewpoint. On the side arguing against Twain’s use of the N-word, there are arguments made stating that the word is offensive, inappropriate for the classroom environment and that the word, itself, is unnecessary for one to truly understand the novel. Opposing these arguments, those who support the use of the racial epithet state that removing the word would have more negative effects than positive, nor will
Paula Lieder is a high school English teacher, and in her classroom while teaching this novel, she leads the class in discussions about racism and slavery. Lieder says that when reading this book “the discussion of race and prejudice must occur.” Her class also discusses the controversy of the book and the use of the word “nigger” (Lieder). When reading this novel students may ask themselves questions about the use of the word “nigger” and how it affects the book like Holbrook did. It’s obvious that Mark Twain was a good writer, and he knew what he was writing. So why would he use the word “nigger” repeatedly? (“Huckleberry Finn”) Holbrook would say it’s because Twain wants the reader to feel disgusted and upset. In order for Twain to get his readers to understand the hurtful nature of this word, he hit them with it over and over (“Huckleberry Finn”). Huckleberry Finn also stirs students’ imaginations while presenting information about human nature. Leo Marx says in Sharon Rush’s article,
Jones, Rhett S. "Nigger and Knowledge. White Double-Consciousness in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Satire or Evasion? Black Perspectives on Huckleberry Finn. Ed. James Leonard, et al. Durham: Duke UP, 1992. 173-194.
Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is said to be one of the greatest American novels to ever be written and is what all other pieces of American literature are based off of. The novel has been debated for over an entire century and will continue to be debated for much longer. Never the less, Huckleberry Finn teaches young students and adults the important life lessons. ”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain should remain required reading in American Literature classes because it enlightens students about the horrors of racism and slavery, familiarizes students with the South during time period, and properly portrays the powers of conformity.
The “racist” words, such as “nigger,” are used for literary purposes only. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn promotes the cause of freedom, social justice, and human understanding. This book should not be banned from high schools because it is an important learning experience and doesn’t support racism. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not intended to be a racist book, instead it displays the true culture of life back in the 1800’s, but still is not entirely appropriate for younger audiences. Offensive and racist language—like “nigger”—is used to truly capture the lifestyle in the 19th century.
I Believe that Huckleberry Finn should be taught and read in high school American literature courses, but only if students are provided with a teacher who can properly analyze and teach in a way that effectively shows this books true purpose as a satire of society. For if this is inefficiently done, the book can most certainly become offensive and crude, and as Wallace adamantly expresses can be "humiliating and insulting to black students" (source A). This book requires a mature audience of readers who must be able to look beyond the seemingly insulting surface. And readers must also understand that the message provided is not meant to have a similar effect as a speech by Martin Luther King. It is instead something more of a magnifying glass that Twain uses to illuminate overall the corruption and hypocrisy that drives society. It is not Twains solution, but instead his attempt to arouse awareness of the flaws in society and the flaws ourselves. While proceeding within these boarders, I believe that this book can produce a heightened sense of awareness and maturity out of its readers.
Huckleberry Finn is a book that has a strong impact on American history. Before-mentioned as how slaves were treated back in the day. This book will teach everyone how bad the United States really was. The author, Mark Twain, uses the word “nigger” again and again in the book also with the strong use of language. Huckleberry Finns showed a major piece of history, that I think all students should know about. This novel is hard to look past the few racist names that are repeated and examine the results that the author, labels. Others may claim that the continuous racial insults void the book of any true essence.
And she describes that reading this book can make people feel angry or upset. “So she done it. And it was the niggers-She said the beautiful trip to England was most about spoiled for her; she didn't know HOW she was ever going to be happy there, knowing the mother and the children warn't ever going to see each other no more”(Twain 218). Twain uses the word in the book because that is how the life was for people in the 1840’s although those words may be offensive. Toni’s points in her essay talking about how situations in the book and how Huck Finn shouldn’t be but put into english class in school and that it should still be seen as a classic piece of
There is a major argument on whether Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a racist novel or not and if it should be taught in schools. A great amount of people found this book to be demeaning to certain races and thought that Twain used racist words quiet loosely in this book. It was also thought the book should be banned from school reading lists because of the racial contexts. While others found The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a great book that reveals the true racism that happened during the pre-Civil War era. This is novel is about a young troublesome named Huckleberry Finn who runs away from his alcoholic abusive father with a black slave named Jim that ran away from his owner Miss Watson. Huck and Jim create this unlikely friendship on their way to a better life full of freedom. This novel Huckleberry Finn should continue to be taught in schools because it shows realism, satire, and a friendship between Huck and Jim.
Narrow-minded readers will misinterpret the meaning behind great American novels. In July of 1876, exactly one century after the American Declaration of Independence, Mark Twain began writing his novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huckleberry Finn is a novel that illustrates the social limitations that people become bound in because they are exposed to society. This novel has erupted generations of controversy regarding the racist aspects it contains. Critics who claim the novel is racist mainly argue that the depiction of a character, Jim, is drawn up to be negative. This assumption derives from Twain’s profound use of the word “n****”. At the time the novel was being written, the usage of this word was very common towards slaves and blacks. Even though this word is used countless times through the novel, Twains reason behind using the word was not to identify any characters with negative traits, but to satirize the users of the word and knowledge of white superiority with racism. He satirizes and explores the ignorance of Southern and religious whites. The novel is about a young boy named Huckleberry Finn who because of his adventurousness, curiosity, and fear of his father, runs away from home. Shortly after escaping Huck encounters a runaway slave he is familiar with named Jim. Together Huck and Jim drift down the Mississippi River avoiding society at all costs. Though out their adventure they develop a friendship. Many assumptions are made on how Twain intended readers to perceive Jim. Furthermore, Twain exposes the ignorance and racist views held by civilized and “wholesome” people to create a positive illustration of Jim along with his influence on Huck.
To teach or not to teach? This is the question that is presently on many administrators' minds about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. For those who read the book without grasping the important concepts that Mark Twain gets across "in between the lines", many problems arise. A reader may come away with the impression that the novel is simply a negative view of the African-American race. If we believe that Huck Finn is used only as a unit of racism we sell the book short. I feel that there is much to be learned about Blacks from this book and it should not be banned from the classroom. This is only one of many themes and expressions that Mark Twain is describing in his work. I believe that in Huck Finn slavery is used as insight into the nature of blacks and whites as people in general. Overall, the most important thing to understand is that Mark Twain is illustrating his valuable ideas without pushing them upon the reader directly.
Throughout previous years, America and society was not the way it is now; there were conflicts and different values that now seem as mistakes and regrets including the issue of slavery. America now regrets what was done before, but there is no way that it can be forgotten since it shapes how the world is today and the way of viewing society. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the story takes place in the 1840s and it is about a white boy by the name of Huck, who runs away from his abusive father with a runaway slave named Jim along the Mississippi River. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has become a controversy in classrooms due to the constant use of the n-word which appeared 219 times in the book, school districts are
Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” has caused some major controversy, it is not a racist book. The major stem of the racial controversy in the novel comes from the “n” word. In the new edition of Huckleberry Finn, a book published in 1885 by Mark Twain, the word “nigger” will be replaced with “slave” over 219 times (Moore, Martha T.). Taking this word out of the book and replacing it is like taking out a part of our culture. As Moore states, “The word is ‘used for a reason’, this can be used to teach younger readers how to deal with more complex readings. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not a racist novel because of Mark Twain’s intentions, the time period in which it was written, and the relationship between Huck and Jim.
Mark Twain is a well-known novelist; his novels contain a wide range of written expressions varying from humor, comprehensive details, and likeable characters. Several of Twain’s written literatures are considered classics, which include, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s notorious novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has been and continues to be a very controversial topic due to his graphic descriptions of racism. Although the “n” word was commonly used to describe African Americans in the 1880’s, the word is currently considered offensive. Many critics think that this book is racist because Twain openly states the “n” word throughout the novel, but this is only one form of racism found within the pages of the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Since its first publication in 1884, Mark Twain’s masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has proven to be one of history’s most controversial novels; especially recently, the novel has often been banned by schools and censored by libraries. Characters in the book are constantly using disparaging language toward slaves, and the repeated use of the word “nigger” makes many sensitive and offended. Critics denounce the novel and Mark Twain as racist for this word being insulting and politically incorrect and for its depiction of black people and how they are treated. However, Twain was not attempting to perpetuate racism; on the contrary, he used satire to expose the ignorance and paradoxical views held by many in America at that time. Despite objections to the novel for offensive and insensitive portrayal of African Americans due to Twain’s negative and stereotypical “minstrel-like” characterization of Jim and the extensive use of the term “nigger,” throughout the novel, Twain exposes Jim’s unfeigned humanity behind a “minstrel-like” pretense by illustrating his capacity to possess profound human emotions and his triggering Huck’s moral transformation from a conscienceless, uncivilized juvenile into a an adolescent able to make the ethical choice.